The Chicago Bulls started the 2025-26 season with five straight victories. Josh Giddey was putting up incredible numbers. The addition of Isaac Okoro to the starting lineup seemed to revamp the defense. Nikola Vucevic was looking comfortable again as the center.
This very campaign marked the Bulls first 5-0 start since the 1996-97 season.
The team has suddenly dropped five games in a row, and is sitting at 6-6 for the campaign. The most recent loss may be the most heartbreaking of them all, though. A Keyonte George last-second triple at the end of the second overtime is what did them in on Sunday night.
Even in Coby White‘s debut, they could not come out on top. They allowed 150 points to a sub.500 team, and have now seen themselves fall after their early season success.
Chicago Bulls Drop Fifth Straight in Coby White Debut
The Chicago Bulls have not been able to string things together of late. And though Coby White did in fact make his season debut, it was not enough of a lift for the team to overcome the high-scoring Utah Jazz.
Despite the loss, White did get to have his heroic moment, though. Late in the first overtime, the Chicago guard forced a jump ball, won the tip, and then took it to the rack for the tying bucket in the waning moments. This helped extend the game into a second overtime.
Allowing your opponents to score 150 won’t win you much, though. Lauri Markkanen dropped 47 big ones. Also surprising this year, is that Chicago has not yet given any time to 18-year-old lottery pick Noa Essengue. Billy Donovan has never given much time to rookies out of the gate, but zero minutes is certainly intriguing.
For the Bulls, they did get 27 points from White in his season debut. Josh Giddey had another triple-double with 26-13-13. They had a double-double from Nikola Vučević, who only grabbed one rebound in the overtime sessions combined, though.
But truthfully, the defense has been dreadful to the point of not having the opportunity to win the game. Keyonte George’s triple put the the nail in the coffin.
When will the Chicago Bulls Win Their Next Game?
It could be a tough week ahead for the Chicago Bulls. Fresh off a late-night loss in Utah on Sunday night, they’ll now go on the road to face the Denver Nuggets. This is a team that, though without Christian Braun and Cam Johnson, has won seven in a row overall and sits at 11-2.
After that, they have the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. The Miami Heat are next on Friday. The good news after that though, is that the Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans will follow from there. One, if not both, of those games should be very winnable.
The East has been full of surprises this year. The Detroit Pistons, banged up all over, are number one at 11-2. The Trae Young-less Hawks sit at 9-5 and have won five straight. The Boston Celtics, even without Jayson Tatum and a new-look squad, have looked pretty solid. The Tyler Herro-less Heat have the number one offense in the NBA.
Coby White and co. need to get things right. It’s been great to see this production from Josh Giddey. The problem is they are 22nd in points allowed. The amazing offense has not been enough to carry them to wins. They need to get it done with defense. Also a need, is having Matas Buzelis to step up and use his length.
A tough next three games might make things tough for Chicago, so if a win doesn’t come then, look for it to be against the Washington Wizards.
It’s a long season, but things could get ugly fast if the Bulls don’t turn the tide.
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